This attractive effect meant that dozens of young people came to De Bult on New Year’s Eve 2023. People were drinking and shooting at passers-by with fireworks. Later in the day, the young people held a ‘fireworks battle’ where they shot each other. Meanwhile, the explosions of heavy fireworks sounded incessantly.
Some residents tried at some point to approach the young people, but this only worked once. Other neighbors fled to another address to get through New Year’s Eve, while others had already sought another refuge in advance. Many reports were made to the police that day, but no real action was taken. This was based on a lack of capacity and sense of urgency.
Because local residents around De Bult know that their neighborhood is a ‘war zone’ in December, but outside of that it is relatively unknown, according to one resident. “I see reactions on social media from adults from the village who say that they were young themselves,” he outlines. “I don’t think the rest of Eelde has any idea of what is going on here.”
Last week’s incident on Vermeerweg is indicative of the unrest in the neighborhood. An explosion takes place there, at a local resident who spoke to young people about their behavior on New Year’s Eve. Although the police are still investigating, they are certain that this is a retaliatory attack. Heavy fireworks were thrown over her fence together with ‘a flammable substance’.
Residents say they do not feel that it is ‘worth reporting’ if problems arise around De Bult again. “There are often parties here at night in the summer, but no one responds to those reports,” says a local resident. Another complains about digital reporting, where you have to provide a description. “I don’t go outside to take a good look at them up close.”
Nevertheless, the police and municipality ask to continue making these reports. “But also help us by providing descriptions or even better: names. Only then will the ball start rolling.”
The investigation is currently going slow, the police admit. Hardly any names of young people are known. This is partly due to the fact that many young people do not come from the village, but from somewhere else. The Groningen districts of Paddepoel and Vinkhuizen, among others, are mentioned.
The question now is what the authorities will do to calm the area next year. While the military police were still quite active on the Bult during the New Year’s Eve of 2022 and 2023, they were absent at the New Year’s Eve. “While that did have the desired effect, a year earlier,” says a local resident. “Then they just chased the young people over the Bult and that was it.”
Camera surveillance, a neighborhood watch, a ban on gatherings and organizing your own neighborhood party are among the possible solutions for next year. The municipality and police indicate that they now understand the urgency of the problems and are working on an action plan.
When, after a meeting of almost two hours, most of the feelings have been expressed and agreements have been made about a follow-up, applause comes from the classroom at De Westerburcht. They are all on the same page, as a local police officer notes, although trust is not yet there in the area.
“But we must work together to ensure that no resident flees their home next year to celebrate New Year’s Eve somewhere else. We also need the neighborhood for that, to solve this matter together.”